Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,388, William Donnison, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
P. J.
Donnison, William
S. 30,388
CONTENTS

10.188 Massachusetts
William Connison
of Boston in the State of Mass who was a Quasi in the Company commanded by Captain  of the Reg t commanded by Col o Elliott in the R d I y time for 13 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 210 Dollars 60 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of March 1833 and issued to Widow D Adams Present
Arrears to the 4th of March, 1833 $413.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept th " 108.33 $521.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. D. Adams Clerk Book 6 Vol. 20 Page 10

W. Donison
1927
Sci

At the Circuit Court of the United States for the first Circuit begun and held at Boston within & for the Massachusetts District on Saturday Tuesday the fifteenth day of May in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty two & by adjournment on this eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty two William Donnison of the said Boston personally appeared in open Court before me Joseph Story Esquire One of the Judges of the said Court
and being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an Act of Congress passed June the seventh One thousand eight hundred & thirty two Viz That he is over seventy five Years of Age, having been born on the seventh day of January one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven That he does not know or believe that any Record of his Birth is in existence. That he entered into the Military Service of the United States in the De- partment of the Artillery in the State of Rhode Island in the Rhode Island Brigade of State Troops, raised in pursuance of the Authority of Certain Acts of Congress of the United States - which Brigade consisted of two Regiments of Infantry and one Regiment of Artillery for the term of fifteen Months from the day of day of December seventeen hundred and seventy six, which was the time when the Declarer entered the public Service; but although he well knows when his service began he cannot remember precisely the length of the time of his actual service in said Regiment of Artillery, but he fully believes and is very confident that he served more than thirteen months of the first term of enlist- ment of said Regiment and Brigade - That he was appointed by the Authority of the State of Rhode Island (and he believes his Commission was signed by Governor Nicholas Cooke) to be Adjutant of said Regiment of Artillery with the Rank and pay of a captain in said Regiment, which was fifteen pounds per Month - That he served in the office of Adjutant of said Regiment during the whole time of his Military Service, and he never did serve in any other military Corps, or in any other Military Capacity (except in a Volunteer Company of Artillery in Providence which was sometimes called out upon emergencies, before the said Brigade of State Troops was formed as aforesaid for fifteen months service). That the said Regiment of Artillery was commanded by Colonel Robert Elliott, Lieut Colonel William Wall and Major Josiah Hagg - all of whom are dead. That the two Regiments of Infantry were commanded by Colonel Crary and Colonel Topham, who also are dead. That the said Declarer was born in the Town of Warwick in the State of Rhode Island near Providence (his mother being at the time of his Birth (as he is informed) on a Visit at Warwick where her Mother resided) That the Declarer always resided in Providence until he entered the public Service as aforesaid. That he has resided in Boston ever since the Revolutionary War, or as long as fifty Years last past, and

and now resides in said City of Boston. That during the time of his Military Service as aforesaid, he never was engaged in any Action, or Battle properly so called, but he has been several times present when small affairs of posts occurred, sometimes against Vessels and Boats landing Men to drive off Cattle and Sheep, and to plunder property on the Shores. Sometimes against British Ships and Vessels chasing American Vessels into Rivers and Harbours burning Houses &c Part of the Artillery was stationed at various points and Forts on the Coast, while the rest of the Company Regiment were stationed at Providence which was Head Quarters. The Declarer further testifies and says that while he was in the public Service as aforesaid, he became very Sickly, and for a time entirely lost his health, so that his friends advised him to obtain leave of Absence in writing if he could for the short time that remained, but if he could not to obtain a discharge on account of his illness, and go abroad by Sea for the recovery of his Health; he made application accordingly, and he obtained either the one or the other, and he did go abroad for that purpose. That he embarked in a Vessel for Holland, was taken by a British Man of War, carried to Newfound Land, to Saint Kitts, and to some other British Islands in the West Indies as a prisoner of War. When at Saint Kitts he was put on board a fifty Gun Ship to be sent a prisoner to England, and the Ship was to sail the next day. At this crisis of his fate he came to the determination to hazard the attempt to make his Escape in the Night by swimming on shore, although if he got on shore he would be still in an Enemies Country. That according to his determination, in the Night he crept out of a Gun Port, leaving all his Clothes, and every thing else which he had behind, and with great difficulty gained the Shore, naked as when he was born - by the Aid of the Negroes whose Cabins were near the Shore, and of a Fisherman who had a boat he got a passage to Saint Eustatia privately, and from thence he returned to Boston in Safety. That when the Declarer was taken by the Enemy as aforesaid he had with him all his papers of every kind, and every thing else which he had, and he thinks it probable that some of his papers related to his Military Service. That they fell into the Enemys hands at different times, when his Baggage was often stolen and plundered, or at the time when he escaped from the fifty Gun Ship and left every thing behind. He rather believes that they fell into the Enemys hands early, and that in consequence thereof they treated him with much greater rigour than the Declarer has known, and been known to other persons in the State  many persons in the State of Massachusetts for fifty Years past. That he was Aid de Camp to the late  great Governor Hancock of this State, and was Adjutant General of said State of Massachusetts for twenty five Years. The Declarer relinquishes every claim to a pension or Annuity whatever, except the present, and declares that his Name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State. He further Declares that he has been well known by all the Governors of the State, by the Honorable Judge of this Court, and by the late and present Mayors of this City for many Years. He further Declares that before the War he was Orderly Sergeant of an Independent Company of Artillery & Piques at Providence.

That the Company was ordered to march to Boston on the Alarms of Lexington and Bunker Hill Battles, but were soon countermanded, but the Company was always kept on the Alert after the War began, and was often called out with the Alarm that the Enemy were at hand until the Regiment of Artillery was raised by the State, until then he confided all his Service Voluntary-
William Dennis
Sept. 11. 1832 Sworn to in open Court
Before me Joseph Story one of the Justices of the Sup. Ct. of the U.S.
Circuit Court of the United States of America for the first Circuit held at Boston by adjournment on Sept. 11. 1832. - In open Court -
I Joseph Story one of the Judges of the said Circuit Court do hereby declare my opinion that upon & after the investigation of the matter & the putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department not the above named William Dennis was a Revolutionary War man & served as a states in the following offices - And I do further certify that the said Isaac Boyle is a Clergyman & now resident in Boston aforesaid; & that his statement & the statements sworn to & subscribed by John Marston, Amos Binney, Asher Benjamin, & Samuel Hewes who are credible men, are in my opinion entitled to credit. Witness my hand the day & year above written - Joseph Story one of the Justices of the Sup. Ct. of the U.S. - signed to the high Circuit Court
I John Watson Davis, Clerk of the District and Circuit Courts of the United States,

within and for the Massachusetts District, Do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original pro- ceedings of the said Circuit Court, in the mat- ter of the application of William Donnison for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this eleventh day of September A.D. 1832.
J. W. Davis Clerk of Mass's District Court
William D.

7927
William Thomson
Dearest of Arly— 13 Mths
24th J. L. Adams Present Boston

BRIEF in the case of William Dounison  of Boston in the State of Mass;  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy five years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1776 des. more than 13 — — As a Adjutant in Artillery with Rank & pay of a Capt. Gen. Col. Allen Col. Wall Major Hagg  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Providence  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? A clergyman & others certify to traditional evidence John Marston a living witness. & a certificate of Rev. William Dounison that applicant appears to have been in service in 1776, in 1777, in 1778.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Kiah Examining Clerk.

30388
INVALID.
Rev
No
30,388
William Donnison
Lieut Genl
Act
June 1 st 1881
Index:—Vol.
2
Page
111
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Donnison which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? My II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? My III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? _____ IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? My V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? My VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? My VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? My VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? My IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? My X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? My

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? 24 XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? 24 If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? 24 Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 24 XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? 24 XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 24 XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? assumed
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

I Isaac Boyle, a Clergyman residing in the City of Boston, do hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with William Donnison who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration, that I have known him from my earliest youth, having lived many years in his neighbourhood, & know & believe him to sustain a good character for veracity, that he is 75 years of age, that he was associated with my father, when they came to the aid of Camp to Governor Hancock, while he was Governor of the State of Massachusetts. That the said Donnison has been Adjutant General of this State for many years, & I do believe that he was an Officer of the Revolution. Tho' I do not know it from my own personal knowledge as I was born after that period, but believe it from having heard himself & others, speak of & declare it, & believe their testimony to be true.
Isaac Boyle
Septm 11: 1832. Sworn to in open Court Before me
forep'd Story one of the Justices of Sup. Ct. of U. States

William Wilkinson of Providence R.I. on Oath Testifies That he served in the Rhode Island Brigade of State Troops in the War of the Revolution from July 1777 to March 1780 The Brigade was composed of Two Regiments of Infantry commanded by Col. Crary & Stephen and one of Artillery by Col. Elliott. The Brigade was first raised for fifteen Months from December 16. 1776 - then for one Year from March 16. 1778 and then for one Year from March 16. 1779. That he has in his possession the copy of a List of the names of those who served in said Brigade which by an Act of the Legislature of Rhode Island in October 1795 was made from the Pay Rolls in order to ascertain the amount of the Depreciation of their wages but no time of service is specified therein. The copy in his possession was made in 1792 and he fully believes from his own personal knowledge and from other sources that it is substantially correct. The name of William Donnison as adjutant of Col. Elliott's Regiment is on said list with the sum of £75. 2. 6 Lawful Money attached thereto. - The Deponent has no personal knowledge of the services of Mister Donnison, having been stationed at a different post. that though he has personally known him as a Gentleman of high Respectability and Character since the War
William Wilkinson
Sworn to this 3 rd of September A.D. 1832 by the above named William Wilkinson who is a credible witness before me
John Pitman
(District Judge P.R.S.)
for Rhode Island Dist.

Rhode Island District
Clerks office U S District Court In Providence Sept 8 1832
I certify that the signature of John Pitman affixed to the foregoing cer- tificate is the true signature of John Pitman Judge of the District Court of the United States within for said District - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court the day & year above written. Benjamin Russell Clerk of said Court

This may certify, that I the subscriber, John Marston, now residing in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, was an Officer in the Massachusetts State Artillery, in the Revolutionary war, and was employed on both expeditions against Rhode Island, under General Spencer, and General Sullivan, and I perfectly recollect seeing General William Donnison, then as adjutant in Colo Elliott's regiment of Rhode Island State Artillery, as a very active officer, and I remember that he was employed on one of those expeditions.
I have been well acquainted with said Donnison, for many years past, since his residence in Boston; where he now lives, and I believe him to be a gentleman of veracity, and that he is (as he says) about seventy five years of age.
Boston
John Marston
Sept. 11. 1832. Sworn to before me in open court
Joseph Story one of the Justices of Sup. Court of United States.

I Asker Benjamin of the City of Boston, being duly sworn According to Law, do testify and say that I have for more than twenty five Years known General William Donnison of the City of Boston, and believe him to be a Man of strict Veracity and truth that I have full faith and belief in his Declarations contained in the Deposition and Declaration to which this paper is Annexed and particularly his Declarations and statements touching his Military Services in the Army of the Revolutionary War. that I have often heard, for many years past, and have always understood, that he was in the time of the American Revolutionary War, an Officer in the State Troops of the State of Rhode Island in the Army of the United States. that he has been for many years Adjutant General of the State of Massachusetts, and I believe him to be Seventy five Years of Age. A. Benjamin
Sept. 11. 1832 Sworn to in open Court
Before me
Joseph Story one of the Justices of Sup. Ct. of U.S.

I Amos Binney of the City of Boston do hereby Certify that I have been well acquainted with General William Donnison of said Boston, and have known him for nearly forty Years - That he has always resided in said Boston since I first knew him - and he now resides in said Boston - That I have had much intercourse with him in relation to the Militia, I having been connected with that Corps, and he having been Adjutant General of the State for many Years - And I do further Certify that the said General Donnison is reputed in the Neighbourhood to have been in the time of the Revolutionary War an Officer of the Army of the Revolution, and I believe and concur in that Opinion - I do further Certify that the said General Donnison is a Gentleman of strict Veracity, and I believe he is at this time at least seventy five Years of Age.
Amos Binney
Sept. 11. 1832. - Sworn to in open Court
Before me Joseph Story one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States

I Samuel Hewes at present residing in Roxbury near Boston but have almost always (until lately) resided in Boston where I was born, do hereby certify that I have always known General William Donison ever since I was a Youth. That I have been well acquainted with him both as a Military Officer, and as a citizen, he having been for many years Adjutant General of the Militia of this State, and I have always lived near him in his Neighbourhood. And I do further certify that the said General Donison is reputed in the Neighbourhood to have been in the time of the Revolutionary War, an Officer of the Revolution, and I believe and concur in that Opinion. I do further certify that said General Donison is a Gentleman of strict Veracity, and I believe he is at this time at least seventy five Years of Age. I do further recollect distinctly that about the years 1784 and 1788 I was for some time in Providence and heard a great many Officers and Gentlemen there speak of General Donison and of his having been a Revolutionary Officer, particularly I have heard the following Officers and Gentlemen mention his Military Services viz General William Barton, Colonel John Matthews, Colonel Colonel Blodget, Colonel Olney, Mr Nightingale, Judge Jenkins and and a great many other Gentlemen & Officers at Providence and in other places.
Samuel Hewes.
Sept. 11. 1832. Sworn to in open
Court. Before me
Joseph Story one of the Justices of Sup. Ct. of U. States.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Donolly, John GRADE Private LINE Virginia
WARRANT NUMBER 12091 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 20, 1792 To Robt. Means, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.